Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much expenditure was incurred by the Child Support Agency in making ex-gratia or special payments as a result of poor service or errors by that agency in each of the last three years.

The information on the total amount paid as ex-gratia or special payments across child maintenance in the last three years is in the attached table.

Notes -

These amounts include payments made across the Child Support Agency and Child Maintenance Service for the following:

Ex-gratia – Actual Financial Loss

Ex-gratia – Consolatory

Compensation for Delay

*The figure for 2015/16 is draft and subject to audit.